Jesus Commends a Woman

Mark 14:3-9 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” NKJV

Our Lord had earlier in the day made His Triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem where all the people shouted Hosanna; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord then went out of the city that night with the disciples to Bethany where they stayed with Simon the leper (this could have been the Samaritan He healed with the other 9 lepers). As He sat at the table for dinner a woman (this may have been the woman forgiven for adultery or the woman our Lord healed at the well in Samaria, but it was more likely Mary the sister of Lazarus) came and poured costly oil over His head to show her love, gratitude, adoration, and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. This woman perhaps spent most if not all of her financial resources on this fragrant oil just for this particular occasion to show her love to Him.

Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. NKJV

Mark 12:30 “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. NKJV

She was not concerned what other people thought of her action or was she trying to prove herself to anyone. Her sole desire was to worship the Lord Jesus Christ the only way she knew how at that time. She possibly could have received Divine revelation from God the Father just like Peter did when he said to our Lord that, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God”, to carry out this act of worship. Whatever motivated or prompted her to do what she did, our Lord commends her and approves of her anointing Him in such a manner and with the oil she chose.

2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. NKJV

This is shortly before He is to be arrested and sentenced to be crucified and the influence of the enemy was present even in this modest home as the disciples scoffed at her spending this money on one bottle of oil when it could have been used for helping the poor. The Apostle John in his gospel tells us that it was Judas the betrayer that responded first with anger and disdain because he was a hypocrite, a pretender, an actor playing a role as disciple because he wanted the money deposited into the treasury (that he held) so he could continue to steal from it without the other disciples even knowing. Our Lord immediately stepped in and put a stop to their harsh criticism of this women because he knew Judas’ heart and what he was about to shortly do to betray Him. Our Lord said this woman has done a beautiful, valuable, and morally virtuous work on my behalf. She will be remembered for her selfless act of worship, her steadfast love and devotion to Me, and her gratitude for her many sins being forgiven her. She is to be praised forever wherever this gospel of mine is proclaimed.

2 Corinthians 8:12 “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” NKJV

This women did not come to Me for what she could get from Me but her desire (from the heart) is for Me to be Glorified in what I have done for her. She has no desire to abuse My grace but by My grace she desires to be empowered so that she might live a life to honor Me and one worthy of the high calling she has received. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “She has done what she could.” Note: Our Lord never ask any of His redeemed blood bought children to do more than is within the resources that He has providentially provided for each one of us. She was not looking for anything from the Lord Jesus Christ but to be with Him in that moment. This woman and her act of worship in this instance is an eternal testimony of passionate love and gratitude (which is always the response of the truly regenerate soul) to the One that rescued, restored, and ransomed her from the power of darkness and conveyed her into His Kingdom.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV

Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. NKJV

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. NKJV

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. NKJV

“Those that honour Christ He will honour.” Matthew Henry

“Outward acts of piety which do not flow from the new and God-given affections of the heart, which delight to depend on God and seek His glory are only legalism and have no value in honoring God.” John Piper

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…